1968 Camaro

       SS 396 

      396-375hp L78 M22

      

 

 

        l 44,000 actual, original miles.

        l One owner from 1968 to 1998.

        l Original Engine, trans, rear, carb, smog.

        l Hubcaps are original to this car!           

Thomas took

delivery of the Camaro on March 6, 1968. He took these photos just days later!

Thomas Malphrus returned home to South Carolina from Vietnam in January, 1968. He had been reading about cars while overseas and knew he wanted a new Chevelle SS396, a Camaro SS396 or a Z/28 when he returned home. He chose to order the ultimate SS396 Camaro: a 375hp 396 L78 with the Rockcrusher M22 from Jasper Motors.

 

With the tall 3.07 gear, Tommie recalls burying the 120 mph speedometer numerous times. One speedy occasion cost him his driver’s license for a year and $200.

 

The #8 rod bearing spun in March of 1974, so Tommie took the engine apart. It remained in pieces for the next 24 years.

Tommie used a mileage recorder clipped to the sunvisor to keep track of oil changes in the Camaro. He set it at 41412 when the engine let go in ‘74.

    Options include:

 

      l    L78 Special High
                  Performance V8   

      l    M22 HD 4 speed

      l     3.07 ratio, posi rear

      l     Special Instrumentation

     l    Tach

      l     AM Radio

     l     Wheelcovers

 

Here’s the carbon copy quote given Tommie in January, 1968 by the salesman (his cousin, Johnny Malphrus) at Jasper Motors.

For 24 years the Camaro sat at Tommie’s house.

1990’s photo.

March 1968 photos !

2008 PHOTOS

Great, real L78, M22 with orig drivetrain, great docs, 44k documented bulletproof miles but amateur resto. Engine details are wrong, paint is 10 foot. Only rust appears to have been where leaves accumulated after years of sitting. Corners of doors have been puttied. Original door panels. Mint orig wheel covers. Have original smog pump, LH exh manifold with paint still on it, radiator, dist, pan, etc. Everything Dave says is original is original to THIS car obtained from orig owner.

All orig sheetmetal except hood. Corners of doors show minor bubbling, putty. Quarters have slight bubbling behind wheel opening. Never a rust bucket.

Door panels are original to car.

All wheelcovers and 3 wheels are orig to car. Wheelcovers were removed early and are mint.

Trim 724, RR Paint, 02D build.

Original parts from THIS car: smog pump, intake, dist, LH exh man, water pump, oil pan. Have correctly dated RH exh manifold, 814 alt dated 8A9, 325 starter 8A2, NOS rad support making virtually everything correct.